Counter Terrorism Security Reviews – Australia

We work with organisations and businesses that need to evaluate their premises from a counter-terrorism and security risk management perspective.

We help organisations understand the level of risk they may be exposed to and identify what security improvements may be required to further protect their facilities and people.

Often, a counter-terrorism assessment for your commercial or industrial building or critical infrastructure is an extension of a security risk management and assessment.

The types of buildings we typically advise on counter terrorism security include:

Data Centres

Commercial Office Towers

Manufacturing Plants

Chemical storage and warehousing facilities

Places of mass gatherings

Utility providers

Transport authorities

We are licensed to work nationally.

What is counter-terrorism?

Counter Terrorism is the implementation of security practices, techniques, tactics and strategies to reduce the risk and consequences of a terrorist attack on an organisation and is aimed at safe-guarding their people, property and information.

Why do we need a counter-terrorism review?

Not every business or major organisation will need a counter-terrorism review. We work with organisations that do not have the appropriate in-house knowledge or expertise to identify terrorism related vulnerabilities or fully understand what counter-measures may be required. The need for a counter-terrorism review will typically be dictated by the type and use of premises in question.

How is a counter-terrorism review conducted?

The review is conducted on-site with senior security and operational representatives from your organisation. Depending on the size of the facility, this could take anywhere from one day to a week or more.

All counter-terrorism reviews are conducted in accordance with ISO 31000:2009.

What is evaluated during the review?

A counter-terrorism review evaluates every aspect of a facilities security measures, starting from the property boundary and working in. It not only includes physical control measures such as gates and fencing, but also:

➢ Ease of access into the building for members of the public
➢ Visibility and sight-lines of building entry points
➢ Visitor management to the tenancies, and to the building
➢ Staff and third party vehicle management on and near the site
➢ Review of the age, condition and effectiveness of access control and intruder detection systems
➢ Review of the extent of CCTV coverage (if any) and review of media storage capability
➢ Adequacy of management systems for access control and CCTV systems (if any)
➢ Review of perimeter building detection and protection
➢ Review of building control points
➢ Plant room, communications room, and building services security
➢ Review of security standing orders associated with permanent or temporary guards
➢ Security related operational policies and procedures
➢ Mail handling procedures (i.e. threat of Anthrax, and explosive devices, etc)
➢ A review of evacuation procedures and incident response management
➢ Risk of theft of assets and/or information

We also work with our clients to determine the likelihood of a terrorist attack occurring, the likely ramifications of an attack, and the level of disruption a terrorist attack could potentially cause to the business.

When should we undertake a counter-terrorism review?

A counter-terrorism review should be undertaken when:

➢ There is an escalation in the National Terrorism Public Alert System

➢ When the building or facility has been classified by state or federal bodies as Critical Infrastructure. Critical Infrastructure is defined as “those physical facilities, supply chains, information technologies and communication networks which, if destroyed, degraded or rendered unavailable for an extended period, would significantly impact on the social or economic wellbeing of the nation, or affect Australia’s ability to conduct national defence and ensure national security”

➢ When intelligence suggests that the building or facility may be a possible target of a terrorist attack

➢ The importance of the facility or building in question has a change in status such as increased operational importance to the organisation

➢ The use of the building / facility has changed in some way which impacts the risk profile of the premises

➢ Organisations such as state or federal bodies that are located in or around the building or premises

➢ It has been more than three (3) years since the last review

Is it possible to detect a terrorist attack?

Possibly, with the correct training, systems and processes in place.

Pre-attack planning is usually undertaken on the ground by terrorists, in or around the target premises. This will be for the purpose of familiarisation and analysis of the local environment, observation of routine behaviour, to gain awareness of security systems and processes, to test these systems and to select the optimal approach to the target.